How To Build An Outdoor Office

This Is How You Mix Business With Pleasure Like A True Pro

Life goals encourage us to spend more time outside, but work goals — for many of us, anyway — keeps us imprisoned indoors. Any sane person would trade light bulbs and ventilation for sunlight and fresh air any day of the week. That’s why if you work from home — either full-time or just the odd hour — it’s time to move your workspace outdoors into your backyard. If you’ve never considered the idea, we’ll show you how to stay productive while getting closer to Mother Nature.

Mark Your Workspace

There are two main routes you can take with your outdoor workplace: have a separate structure for it or work in an open space. If you opt for the former, that would mean creating something like an outdoor shack that can comfortable accommodate a couple of people. To take advantage of the outdoors, try to get as many windows as you can in the structure. Floor-to-ceiling glass panes and French doors are ideal because you want to see the greenery around you. If it’s just a concrete structure, the outdoors element will be lost and you’ll once again feel like you’re cooped up inside.

If you’re opting for the outdoors, you’ll still need to create some boundaries to divide the lines of your backyard from your workspace. That can be achieved with walls, shelving units or plants, and that will make it clear where your work area begins and ends.

Landscape Around

Now that you’ve set up shop, it’s time to make the area around it pretty. Remember, the idea of moving your office outdoors — or closer to the outdoors — is so that you appreciate more of Mother Nature.

If your eyesores happen to be large spots of dead grass — the dreaded "dead spots" — then you're going to want to apply some EZ Seed® Sun & Shade to your lawn; it will help patch up the problem areas in no time.

Many of us are chained to a desk indoors, only relying on our imagination for what might be happening in the sunny outside. You’ve moved your office out there to take advantage of it and maximize the experience.

Furniture

Now that you’ve sorted out the setting, it’s time to furnish. Offices don’t require much, but it’s worth your while to invest in a good desk and chair, as that’s where you’ll spend the most time.

The desk is the linchpin, and while most people love their rich, thick wood, consider going with a glass desk. They aren’t overly popular for many indoor workplaces but in an area where you want to maximize light, it could be ideal. If you’re inside an office-shed you’ve created and you’re trying to bask in the light, a big wooden desk will block much of it, while a glass desk will let the light through.

In terms of your office chair, just be conscious of the elements. If you’re indoors, you have plenty of options. If you’re outdoors, you’ll need to select a material that can handle the weather.

Comforts for Company

The main priority in your workplace is business but, inevitably, family or friends will want to step into your office. Be a welcome host to those wandering in by having something prepared for your guests. That means a seating space for your visitors so that they can get comfortable, along with a couple of magazines or tablets to keep them busy in case you need to focus on work. And be prepared for a business meeting just in case. A small, two-person table or a seating area for brainstorming is ideal if you have the space.

Tech

Now that you’ve cordoned off an area, it’s time to connect. Cords are not your friend when it comes to design, so do as much as you can without them. Linking to Wi-Fi is an easy one but you might need to drag some cables for power and charging — depending on how long you plan to stay outdoors. Making space for a laptop is likely your tidiest option but if you’re bringing a desktop with a monitor, you’ll need an outlet nearby to plug them in. Cables are an eyesore but some creative landscaping or plants can disguise them. Remember that if you’re working in an open space outdoors, you’ll want to find some shade. Sunlight and monitors don’t pair well, as glare and brightness issues crop up.

A lot of these problems are alleviated if you’re working in a backyard office shed or structure versus a desk on the patio.

Spruce It Up

Don’t be that guy who works from home in a barren office. Yes, having an empty space with blank white walls is clean. It also suggests that you’re very single.

If you’re decorating an indoor office that you’ve created outdoors — like a repurposed shed — then your options are endless. Some fresh paint, artwork, posters, shelves and extra monitors are a good starting point. If your office is covered but outdoors, then you may want to add décor that fits in with the natural setting: some potted plants or herbs, coffee table books, or a little waterfall fountain are appealing additions.